Re: ERO 026-0300 – Proposed…

Re: ERO 026-0300 – Proposed Changes to Streamline and Standardize Official Plans

I am writing as a rural landowner to express strong support for ERO 026-0300 and the Province’s proposal to standardize and streamline Official Plans across Ontario.

From a landowner’s perspective, the current system is not working fairly.

Municipalities have been given too much discretion to create their own planning frameworks, definitions, and interpretations. This has led to inconsistent rules across Ontario and, in some cases, policies that are far more restrictive than what most landowners reasonably expect.

The City of Burlington is a clear example of this problem.

Through its “made-in-Burlington” Official Plan approach, the City has introduced unique definitions and policy interpretations that are not consistent with broader provincial planning principles. As a result, landowners are faced with a level of complexity and restriction that goes well beyond what should be considered reasonable or predictable.

In particular, rural properties are being affected in ways that are deeply concerning. Lands that have always been understood and used as rural are increasingly being treated as though they are subject to Greenbelt-style limitations—despite not being formally designated as Greenbelt. This shift is not transparent, and it fundamentally changes how landowners can use and enjoy their property.

From a landowner’s standpoint, this feels like a quiet reclassification of land use without the proper legislative process, compensation considerations, or clear provincial direction.

Planning policies should not change the practical use of land in such a significant way through municipal interpretation alone.

There is also a serious issue with inconsistent definitions. When municipalities create their own terminology or reinterpret standard planning language, it creates confusion, uncertainty, and risk for landowners. The same term should not mean different things depending on the municipality.

For these reasons, I strongly support the Province’s efforts to:

Standardize Official Plan structure and content

Establish consistent definitions across all municipalities

Limit the ability of municipalities to impose restrictive, non-standard interpretations of land use

Ensure that municipal policies align clearly with provincial intent

Landowners deserve clarity, consistency, and fairness. We should be able to understand what our land can be used for without navigating shifting local interpretations that effectively reduce our rights over time.

Additionally, these types of municipal policy shifts have real financial consequences. When land is subjected to increasing restrictions through unclear or inconsistent planning frameworks, it can directly impact property value, limit reasonable use, and create uncertainty for long-term planning. This undermines confidence in the planning system and places an unfair burden on individual landowners who have relied on established land use expectations.

ERO 026-0300 is an important and necessary step toward restoring that balance. I strongly encourage the Province to move forward with these changes and ensure they meaningfully address the current inconsistencies and overreach at the municipal level.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input.